When Lightning Strikes: The Making and Meaning of a Patriotic Symbol

This blog post, written by Molly Hermann, Producer/Writer/Director of “A Star-Spangled Story: Battle for America,” appears on the National Museum of American History’s “O Say Can You See?” blog:

As ubiquitous as grass in a yard or mailboxes along the roadside, for Americans, our flag is the king-daddy of symbols. We planted one on the moon. Visitors tour Washington, D.C., every year wearing them on their t-shirts. The search to make sense of the 9/11 attacks caused such a run on flags you couldn’t buy one for a month. As children, we pledge allegiance to it. Caskets come home draped in it. It reflects and absorbs our beliefs.